Psalm 12

Psalm 12[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

1Help, Lord, for no one is faithful any more;
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2Everyone lies to their neighbour;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbour deception in their hearts.

3May the Lord silence all flattering lips
    and every boastful tongue –
4those who say,
    ‘By our tongues we will prevail;
    our own lips will defend us – who is lord over us?’

5‘Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
    I will now arise,’ says the Lord.
    ‘I will protect them from those who malign them.’
6And the words of the Lord are flawless,
    like silver purified in a crucible,
    like gold[c] refined seven times.

7You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
    and will protect us for ever from the wicked,
8who freely strut about
    when what is vile is honoured by the human race.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
  2. Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth
Psalm 12